51 - Shadows of the Throne

"Time flies so fast… Coronation ceremony? I recall this ceremony was disrupted by the Frost Giant invasion."

The news snapped Aaron back to the timeline's reality.

Barring unforeseen events, Thor would ascend as Asgard's new king post-ceremony.

This explained Odin's recent flurry of missions for Thor.

They were designed to bolster Thor's reputation, cementing his image as a brave and formidable leader in the eyes of Asgard's people.

Reflecting on the plot's progression, Aaron pinpointed the crux.

Odin was aging.

He likely sensed his time was waning.

From Thor 1 onward, Odin began retreating from power's epicenter.

In the coming years, he would retire to Earth, his soul eventually entering Valhalla.

This moment marked the beginning of Asgard's countdown to demise.

The once-mighty Aesir faced the looming specter of Ragnarok!

This realization brought Aaron no joy, only urgency.

For others, the coronation was a rare, joyous spectacle in Asgard, worthy of celebration.

For Aaron, it heralded a cataclysmic shift, with cosmic forces soon converging for a Marvel-esque dance of chaos.

"Time, time! With more time to grow, let alone Hela or Surtur, even the Celestials themselves would be no threat!"

Aaron shook his head, dismissing these thoughts.

Fortunately, he now possessed the strength to protect himself. As long as he avoided recklessness, he would remain safe.

Moreover, several years remained before Odin's complete withdrawal, ample time to elevate his power significantly.

After packing his gear, Aaron opened a portal to the secret passage, intent on returning.

But a familiar figure approached from the distance.

Loki?

Aaron was startled, then relaxed as understanding dawned.

Of course.

Loki orchestrated the Frost Giant incursion during the coronation.

He must have struck a deal with Laufey.

Why else would Laufey claim Odin was surrounded by traitors?

As for Loki's schemes, Aaron considered intervening but chose to let them unfold.

A chaotic Asgard would muddy the waters, perfect for his plans.

It was the ideal moment to seize the Casket of Ancient Winters.

With this in mind, Aaron, cloaked in invisibility, watched Loki depart before stepping through the passage.

Back home, he dispelled his physical clone and headed to the Magic Academy.

As a mage devoted to learning, why not acquire more spells?

Frigga held a wealth of valuable magic.

But en route, he was intercepted.

The culprits? Thor and his entourage.

"Hey, Aaron, you're finally out of your cave!"

Thor and the others beamed at the sight of him.

Aaron rolled his eyes. "Stop. If this is about drinking, forget it. I'm off to consult the Queen on magic."

"We'll drink after the coronation. I'll join you then."

"Aaron… you've changed!" Thor said, clapping Aaron's shoulder with mock solemnity. "Once, we were fixtures at the tavern, never refusing an invitation."

"But now? You've fallen for magic, abandoning your friends."

"My heart aches…"

Aaron swatted Thor's hand away with disdain. "Get lost!"

Only after knowing Thor did Aaron grasp how unreliable this carefree God of Thunder could be.

A conceited, reckless man, yet at times more playful than a maiden.

Could you imagine a nearly two-meter-tall warrior winking at you during a formal celebration before millions?

Aaron wasn't sure about others, but for Thor, it was effortless.

And he could do worse.

Seeing Thor's impish grin, Aaron sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Thor, what would the God-King think if he saw you now?"

"He'd think, 'My son is phenomenal!'" Thor replied without hesitation.

"…"

"I question whether the God-King's blood flows in you," Aaron said, eyes brimming with doubt.

Thor thumped his chest, exuding bravado. "What else? The purest, most ancient divine power courses through me!"

Wine and cheese, more like, Aaron thought, shrugging. "When it comes to narcissism, you win."

Laughter erupted from the group.

They were accustomed to Thor's antics.

As his friends, they knew his nature well.

Though occasionally absurd, Thor was never off-putting, only endearing.

His guileless, approachable demeanor won their loyalty.

Unlike Loki, whose magical pranks and scheming alienated others.

Beyond Thor, the group harbored some aversion to Loki.

Speak of the devil, and he appears.

As they mentioned Loki, he arrived, clearly bound for the Magic Academy.

Given their wariness of him, they swiftly changed topics.

"By the way, Aaron, what magic have you been studying? It's rare for you to spend so long on one spell," Sif asked curiously. "I heard you've even postponed lessons with the Queen to focus on it."

Thor and the others turned their attention to Aaron.

The Magic Academy was no secret fortress; news of Aaron's repeated deferrals of Frigga's teachings had spread.

They knew his dedication to magic was genuine, his passion unmistakable.

Everyone was eager to learn what had occupied him.

Loki, newly arrived, perked up, listening intently.

Aaron's prolonged absence from the academy puzzled him. He feared Aaron had secretly mastered some formidable magic.

"Nothing much, just dabbling in enchantment magic," Aaron said casually, tossing out a half-truth.

"Enchantment? Have you mastered it?" Sif began, then corrected herself. "No, with your talent, it's not a question of if. How far have you progressed?"

"Just the basics. I've crafted some trinkets."

Aaron produced a cloak, presenting it to the group. "Recently, I learned invisibility magic from the Queen. After studying enchantment, I wondered if I could imbue equipment with it, allowing those untrained in magic to use invisibility."

"Imagine if our soldiers could turn invisible at will. What impact would that have on our enemies?"

What impact?

The group pictured themselves as the enemy, and their expressions shifted dramatically.

An army of invisible Asgardian warriors, clad in Uru metal, wielding enchanted weapons, would be a nightmare.

Thor's eyes lit up. "Aaron, that's brilliant! Invisible soldiers? Our enemies wouldn't stand a chance!"

Sif nodded. "It'd be like fighting shadows. Their morale would collapse before the battle began."

The Three Warriors murmured agreement, envisioning the tactical advantage.

Loki, however, narrowed his eyes. Aaron's words sparked suspicion.

Enchantment magic was no small feat, and Aaron's casual tone belied its complexity.

Had he truly crafted such an artifact so quickly?

Or was this a cover for something greater?

Loki's mind raced, but he kept silent, his expression unreadable.

Aaron noted Loki's scrutiny but remained unfazed.

His claim was grounded in truth; he had studied enchantment and could indeed craft such a cloak.

But his true purpose—securing the Casket and confronting Laufey—remained hidden.

The coronation loomed, and with it, Loki's plot.

Aaron would let the chaos unfold, positioning himself to strike when the moment was right.

The Galaxy

Ayesha's covert study of the Magic Network deepened.

Her mages reported exponential growth in their abilities, the network's power surpassing their expectations.

The God of Magic's legend grew, his feats echoing across the stars.

Betrayal of the Supreme Evolutionary seemed increasingly viable. If the Sovereign could harness the network fully, they might sever his genetic control.

Adam Warlock's mission proceeded, but Ayesha's true focus was the network.

The Supreme Evolutionary, blind to her scheming, pressed forward with his obsession over 89P13.

The Magic Network's influence spread, tilting the galactic balance.

Earth

Zola's teleporter neared completion.

His experiments, unwittingly fueling the Magic Network's multiversal reach, had stretched its tendrils into new realities.

Aaron, sensing this, finalized his network upgrade plans.

His intelligence ensured swift execution.

The multiverse was his horizon, but immediate priorities beckoned.

Asgard

Aaron extricated himself from Thor's group, citing his need to consult Frigga.

At the Magic Academy, he would learn new spells while keeping an eye on Loki's movements.

The coronation was days away.

When the Frost Giants struck, Aaron would be ready.

The Casket of Ancient Winters would be his, and Laufey would pay for his crimes.

In the Golden Palace's festive glow, Aaron moved unseen, a predator awaiting his moment.

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